Self-opening collapsible chair



Jan. 4, 1949. F. J. CURRAN 2,457,978

SELF-OPENING COLLAPSIBLE-CHAIR Filed Sept. 25, 1946 h 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. en/w J Comm/v 9 I F. J. Q'URRAN ,9

SELF-OPENING COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR Filed Sept. 25, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEADITOR. fin /z .7, Come/9 f M4 I 'Jan. 4,-1949. F. J. CURRAN SELF-OPENING COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR 3' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 fie. 8.

INVENTOR. Fen/m J1 CURRAN flrromvty.

Patented Jan. 4, 1949 V 2,457,978 SELF-OPENING coLnAPsIBLE CHAIR Frank J Curran, Hinsdale, Application September 25, 1946, Serial Nd. 699,111 1 Claim. (01.. 155-452) My invention relates to collapsible chairs or chair designed for use in vehicles,- at circuses, baseball parks, and on picnics or under like circumstances, the chair being of the type having a back supporting portion and a seat portion but no legs or other supports to' hold the seat portion above the object upon which it is placed.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide in a collapsible or to'ldable chair of the type described automatic means therein which open or unfold the chair to its receptive position as soon as the chair is placed in the desired location.

A further object is toprov'ide the self-opening feature built in and completely enclosed in the fabric connection between the back-supporting position and the seat portion, sothat the attractiveness of the chair is not in any way diminished and the working parts are protected from damage.

A further object is to provide the self openirig mechanism andarrange its location and attach-- ment so that it will be easy to assemble the chair.

further object is to provide snap-fastener means adjacent the eatended ends of thesat and back for fastening the same together when the seat is collapsed and not in use.

A further object is to provide an improved self-opening chair of the type described that is easily and simply constructed; yet strong and durable and capable of lasting a long time without becoming broken or out of order.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, upon which Fig. l is a front perspective view of a chair constructed in accordance with my invention shown in an open position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the collapsible chair with the back and seat flattened out in the same plane;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the lines 33 of Fig. 2 showing the self-opening mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a similar cross sectional view in a changed position or in the position that the structure assumes when the chair is in use;

Fig. 5 is a similar cross sectional view of the same parts when the chair is in a collapsed position; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary back view showing the spring mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of a modified construction of the chair; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

In the embodiment of the invention, which I have illustrated, I have shown my collapsible chair C provided with a back 8 and a seat 10. The back of the chair may consist of a plurality of parallel slats l2 which are preferably made of wood composition or any other suitable material. The upper ends of these slats [2 are inserted in pockets [4 formed in a folded piece of textile fabric It, the fabric being stitched at l8 to form the pockets [4. The seat ID of the chair is also formed of slats 20 of thesame character as the slats [2, which at their :outer ends are inserted in pockets 22 formed in a folded piece of textile fabric 24 having longitudinal stitches 26 to form the pockets.

I provide a strip of textile fabric 28 to opera-'- tively connect the slats l2 and zn and form a pivotal joint between them. This strip 218 is formed with two series of pockets 30 to receive the lower end of the slats l2 and 32, to receive the inner ends of the slats 201 I- provide two parallel rows of longitudinal stitching 34 betweenthe rows of pockets 30 and 32 respectively, so that the pockets may be folded over fiat upon each other when the slats l2 and 20 are folded together and the chair is in a collapsed position.

The outside slats of the back and the seat are both cut away as shown at l2 and 20* to permit the slats to be swung into angular relation so that the outer slats of the seat will be turned slightly upwardly and the outer sla'ts of the back will be turned slightly inwardly. For the purpose of holding the back" in proper angular relation to" the seat when in use, I provide the lateral straps 36 connected within the fabric members l6 and 24 and preferably riveted to the outer slats l2 and 20.

The seat may be formed slightly wider than the body of an average person, so that the side slats may be turned upwardly and outwardly as shown in Fig. 1, and it will be obvious that when the chair is in use the weight :of a person upon the seat will hold the forward end of the seat down, the user may lean against the back of the chair, and this leaning action will cause the straps 36 to draw the outside slats into the angular position shown in Fig. 1. Because of the fact that the inner and outer ends of the slats of both the back and the seat are disposed within pockets formed in flexible strips of pieces of textile fabric, the seat and the back will be sufficiently flexible to conform generally to the contours of the body and thus the seat will be particularly comfortable.

By reason of the construction shown, the seat can be easily folded and rolled into a compact bundle which is light in weight and can be easily carried under the arm. In order to cause the chair to automatically assume the position shown in Fig. 1, I have provided the spring member 48 which is shown mounted between the middle slats l2 and 20 and fastened to the same. Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 to 6, the spring member 40 may be in the form of a coiled spring I having the extended ends 42 and 44. These ends are adapted to extend below the slats I2 and 20 respectively, pass through the openings 46 and 48 therein, again extend parallel with the slats l2 and 20, and have their ends securely fastened by the holding members 50. The holding members 50 may be fasteners having a flat head and two spaced prongs which are driven into the slats l2 and 28 upon opposite sides of the spring ends 42 and 44.

In the embodimentv which I have illustrated, the holding members 50 may pass through both sides of the pockets 30 and 32 and in this manner fasten the fabric member 28 securely in place. It will thus be obvious that when the chair is placed upon a desired location, the same will automatically spring to the position shown in Fig. 1, holding the back upright against the strap members 36. The spring member 40 and its associated elements will then be in the position shown in Fig. 1.

In order to fasten the back and the seat together in a collapsed position, I have provided the snap fastener comprising the eye S fastened to the pocket 24 and the eyelet S fastened to the pocket 16. When the chair is collapsed against the spring 48 and the snap fastener parts on the pockets l6 and 24 are connected, the chair will be secured in a collapsed position. This condition of the spring member 40 is shown in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have provided a distinct improvement in collapsible chairs in that the chair automatically assumes a position so that it can be used, and when it is desired to collapse the chair and place it aside, I have provided simple and easily manipulated means for effecting the closure or collapsing of the same.

Inthe modificationof the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown my collapsible chair C provided with a back 9 and a seat I l. The back of the chair maybe made of a comparatively strong, flexible fabric provided with a pair of pockets at its sides 13 and 15 into which in assembling I insert the slats I! and I 9 to provide rigidity for the back. I provide a third slat l9 suitably positioned medially of the back memher 8 and connected at its lower end to a slat 2! mounted in the middle of the cushion 23 which forms the seat II. This connection may be by means of a coiled spring member 40, similar to that previously described, having the extended ends 42 and 44, the ends being adapted to extend below the slats l9 and 2|, passing through the openings 47 and 49 therein and again extending parallel with the slats l9 and 2|. The seat II is preferably several inches thick, being formed with the fabric cover member H-a that is secured to the fabric cover member of the back and being filled with suitablestuiiing 5 to form a soft, comfortable seat. The back is held in the generally upright position to which it is raised by means of the coiled spring 48 by suitable strap members 3"! secured to the sides of the seat and the back respectively.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown. What I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of, the United States is:

A collapsible chair of the character described having a back and a seat, the back being formed of parallel slats, the seat being formed of parallel slats, a member formed of flexible material and disposedbetween the rear ends of the seat slats and the lower ends of the back slats, said member being formed to provide pockets receiving the ends of said slats, the lateral slats of the seat and back at their adjoining ends being angularly cut away inward from the outer edges of the slats to permit these lateral slats to be turned into angular relation with their companion slats, means flexibly connecting the upper ends of the back slats, means flexibly connecting the outer ends of the seat slats, flexible straps connected to the upper ends of the lateral back slats and the forward ends of the lateral seat slats, a coiled spring member disposed between the lower end of a back slat and the inner end of a seat slat, said spring having legs, one leg extending for a distance behind the back slat and the other leg extending for a distance below the seat slat, then through openings in the slats and then parallel with and slidably held against the forward face of the back slat and the upper face of the seat slat.

' v FRANK J. CURRAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of'this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS France Jan. 2,1931 

